Updates

We preserved a special part of Texas.

This fall, Land Commissioner Jerry Patterson announced plans to transfer the ruggedly scenic Christmas Mountains to Texas State University, where the land will be open to all. Previously, Patterson proposed selling the mountains to private interests. But after a public outcry—including thousands of petition signatures from Environment Texas members—he promised to protect the Christmas Mountains forever.

Blog Post

Rainforest Village Battles Big Oil | Luke Metzger

The world is watching Ecuador. Oil giant PetroAmazonas has plans to drill in the Amazon rainforest. Many rainforest residents are no doubt fearing a repeat of what happened nearly fifty years ago, when Texaco blasted through the Amazon rainforest, clearing acres of pristine forest land and began drilling for oil. The result was the most massive destruction and contamination of rainforest lands in history along with unprecedented human rights violations. It was the early sixties; and although world-wide activism was at its peak, there were no global public awareness campaigns or social media platforms to halt the determination of such a big oil company. Today, the world is different--environmentally aware and globally connected. There are multi-national commissions and environmental standards in place; yet, deliberate deforestation is still the top threat to the world’s tropical forests. And proposed drilling is a huge threat right now.

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News Release | Environment Texas

Court rejects Exxon bid to dismiss citizen enforcement suit

HOUSTON – A federal court has rejected, for the second time, an attempt by ExxonMobil Corporation and two subsidiaries to get rid of a lawsuit filed against them by Sierra Club and Environment Texas.  The lawsuit alleges thousands of violations of the Clean Air Act at the nation’s largest oil refinery and chemical plant complex, located in Baytown, Texas. 

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Headline

Proposal limits citizen challenges to polluters

"The deck is already stacked against residents when a powerful polluter applies for a permit to discharge chemicals in to our air, water and land. The contested case hearing process has played a critical role in giving residents the ability to ask the polluters tough questions and make them take steps to mitigate health and environmental threats." Environment Texas Director Luke Metzger on Senate Bill 957, which would severely restrict contested cases.

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News Release | Environment Texas

Senate panel votes to weaken citizen rights to protect communities from pollution

AUSTIN – This afternoon, the Senate Natural Resources committee voted 6-3 in favor of legislation to weaken the rights of Texans to protect their communities by challenging the permits of polluters. SB 957 (Fraser) makes major changes to the contested case hearing process, which has helped Texans win stronger environmental protections in permits to build new or modify existing landfills, hazardous waste facilities and power plants.

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News Release | Environment Texas

Funding for local parks zeroed out in budget

AUSTIN – Local parks would get zero funding under the latest version of the state budget, according to parks advocates at a news conference on the Capitol grounds this past Thursday. The group called on budget writers to restore funding for the program as they reconcile the budgets passed by the House and Senate.

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